The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-09-09
END OF AN OUTLAWS LIFE
A Desperate Who Was Few Years Ago
a Terror to indianapolis People.
comes Violently Insane from a Bullet !
Wound and Dies in the PoorHouse.

The old, dilapidated frame house at No. 282
East Washington street last night sheltered the
remains of James Corrigan. who died q Grim
inal in the insane department. of the county
poor house yesterday afternoon. The house IS
occupied by John c. Corrigan a soap-maker and
father of the deceased. Ten years ago the
young man was one of the boldest outlaws of a
halfscore of bad characters that then infested
the city, and the insanity which finally brought
about his death was the result of bullet
wound he received in a pitched battle with two
policemen in the Fall-creek bottoms. north Of
the city.
Corrigan was one of four desperadoes that
participated in the 'Modoc battle" Fall creek
in 1879, and it then he wounded. His
three partners were James German, known as
''Modoc," Jack Murphy and Barney Moran.
The four constituted a gang that had terrorzed
the northwest portion of the city, and were
feared by the police that they were allowed to 60
with their depredations with little disturbance
The day before the trouble occurred there
had been a shooting ARRAY in which a man was
badly hurt, and his assalaut escaped. AL
Travis. the present superintendent of police.
was then in charge of the force, and being mott
fed that the who did the shooting was
hiding in Fall.creek bottom. near Tennessee
street. detailed David Richards who is now on
the force. and Milton Bradley. then a member
of the force to go up there and search for the
fugitive. The two officers had left the road and
started through a corn field to the creek, when
they ran upon "Modoc," Corrigan, Murphy and
Moran in camp. The four outlaws supposed
the officers were looking for them, ana at once
began using their revolvers. The officers be-
iieved one of the four to be the man they were
looking for. and also opened fire. For five min
utes bullets few thick and fast, and then the
four outlaws started to run. They were pur-
sued to White river, and during the race the
revolvers of both pursued and pursuers were
discharged as rapidly as they could be loaded.
Reaching the river. the men swan it and made
their escape. In the fight Richards received
two bullet wounds in the leg, from which he
still imps.
The search for the fugitives was kept I'D by
other officers, and the next day Murphy and
Moran were captured in the woods near Bright
wood after another hard fought battle in which
was hurt Corrgan and 'Modoc" es-
capped
few months afterward 'Modoc" returned
and turned States evidence. He said that on
the night before thu shooting the four had burg
larized j. p. Dunn's residence, and for that
supposed that the officers were looking
for them. Corrigan he said, had been shot in
the head and shoulder, and had been sent to
friends in Illinois. ''Modoc' and Moran were
acquitted. but Murphy was sent to the peniten-
tiary for long term.
year after the trial Corrgan returned to the
city a maniac from the wound he had received
in the head. He taken to the Insane
Asylum. and was confined there several years.
but as he was ncurahe he several years
ago transferred to the county poor house, where
he has been since He at time showed
any signs of improvement. few weeks ago
be became more demonstrative, and remained
until his death yesterday. He was only
thirty live wears of age at the time of his death.
He will be buried to day by Renhan. Long &
Hedges.